AGENT ORANGE
A herbicide used in the Vietnam War to eliminate foliage.

AID TO FAMILIES WITH DEPENDENT CHILDREN (AFDC)
The program authorized to provide financial assistance and social services to needy families with a MINOR CHILD. The PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND WORK OPPORTUNITY AND RECONCILIATION ACT (PRWORA) replaced AFDC with a block grant called TANF. In Minnesota, AFDC was replaced by the MINNESOTA FAMILY INVESTMENT PROGRAM. See MINNESOTA FAMILY INVESTMENT PROGRAM (MFIP) in 0002.41 (Glossary: Medically Necessary...).

ALIMONY
An allowance for support that a court orders a person to pay to his/her SPOUSE.

ALLOCATION
A DEDUCTION from 1 person’s income for the maintenance needs of others. See TEMP Manual TE02.10.60 (Family Cash Allocations), 0018.30 (Allocations).

ALTERNATIVE CARE (AC)
Payments made by Social Services for HOME CARE SERVICES for a person over age 65 who would otherwise require care in a NURSING FACILITY. See the Minnesota Health Care Programs Eligibility Policy Manual.

ALTERNATIVE EMPLOYMENT PLAN (AEP)
MFIP : The AEP was replaced by the Employment Plan. See 0028.15 (Employment Plan (EP)) for further information.

AMERASIAN
A person of Asian and American parentage. There are special provisions for non-citizen children of Vietnamese mothers and American fathers. See 0011.03.18 (Non-Citizens - People Fleeing Persecution).

AMERICORPS
The Corporation for National and Community Service administers several AmeriCorps programs, which include AmeriCorps State and National, AmeriCorps VISTA, and AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC). For more information, see 0017.15.78 (National and Community Service Programs).

APPEAL
A client’s or authorized representative’s request to the HUMAN SERVICES JUDGE for review of a COUNTY AGENCY’s action or inaction. See 0027 (Appeals).

APPLICANT
A person who has submitted a request for assistance for whom no decision has been made regarding eligibility, and whose application has not been acted upon or voluntarily withdrawn.

APPLICATION
A request for assistance made by submitting a signed and dated page number 1 of the COMBINED APPLICATION FORM (CAF) or APPLYMN application. See 0005 (Applications), 0009.06.03 (Recertification Processing Standards).

APPLICATION DATE
Date of application varies depending on the program and the applicant’s situation. See 0005.12.09 (Date of Application) for more specific information.

APPLYMN
An online application the public may use to apply for cash assistance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) and emergency help.

APPROVAL
The act of certifying that an APPLICANT is eligible to receive benefits.

ASSET LIMIT
The maximum amount of COUNTED ASSETS clients may own or have available and remain eligible for assistance. See AVAILABILITY in 0002.05 (Glossary: Assistance Standard...).

ASSET TRANSFER
The conveying of ownership of an asset to another party.

ASSETS
PERSONAL PROPERTY owned wholly or in part by the client.

ASSIGNMENT
To transfer legal claim, such as assignment of CHILD SUPPORT or MEDICAL SUPPORT.

ASSISTANCE
Benefits received from the MINNESOTA FAMILY INVESTMENT PROGRAM (MFIP), DIVERSIONARY WORK PROGRAM (DWP), SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP), MEDICAL ASSISTANCE (MA), GENERAL ASSISTANCE (GA), MINNESOTA SUPPLEMENTAL AID (MSA), REFUGEE CASH ASSISTANCE (RCA), REFUGEE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE (RMA), and EMERGENCY PROGRAMS. See the Minnesota Health Care Programs Eligibility Policy Manual for the health care programs.

ASSISTANCE PAYMENT
Assistance received from the MINNESOTA FAMILY INVESTMENT PROGRAM (MFIP), DIVERSIONARY WORK PROGRAM (DWP), GENERAL ASSISTANCE (GA), MINNESOTA SUPPLEMENTAL AID (MSA), REFUGEE CASH ASSISTANCE (RCA), and EMERGENCY cash programs.

ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
The MINNESOTA FAMILY INVESTMENT PROGRAM (MFIP), DIVERSIONARY WORK PROGRAM (DWP), SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP), MEDICAL ASSISTANCE (MA), GENERAL ASSISTANCE (GA), MINNESOTA SUPPLEMENTAL AID (MSA), REFUGEE CASH ASSISTANCE (RCA), REFUGEE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE (RMA), and EMERGENCY PROGRAMS. See the Minnesota Health Care Programs Eligibility Policy Manual for the health care programs.